„ I visited Brda twenty years
ago for the first time. They have a good concept,
I am enjoying the landscape, here I very feel
well and that is reason, why I like to come again
and again“, stressed the Styrian State counsellor
for Education and Company Mag.
Ursula Lackner at her recent visit of Goriška
Brda. Also her close working collegues and the
Country ORF director Gerhard
Draxler were with her.
The Mayor of Brda Franc
Mužič, who – together with madam
Tina Novak Samec, the director of the Establishment
for tourism, culture, youth and sport and with
Anita Manfreda, the director of the municipality
administration - accepted the Austrian guests,
felt assured, that this visit would result in
a very special response and the connections with
Styria would become stronger.
On their visit the guests were accompanied by
the President and the Secretary-General of the
AACC Bernard Sadovnik
and Filip Warasch.

Photo: The delegation in front of the altar in
the Church of the Holy Cross (a masterpiece from
a workshop in Villach)

Codex of behaviour for saving of
refugees in the Mediterranean see

On Thursday, July 6th, 2017 the
EU members again agreed upon a stronger protection
of European outer borders. The agreement, which
was accepted upon the initiative of Italy, foresees,
that in future it is necessary to have a better
control over the saving activities of the humanitarian
organisations. Therefore the NGOs are subject
to the Codex of behaviour while carrying on saving
actions. The codex also determines, that the humanitarian
organisations are not allowed to the coastal area
of the Lybian territory and establishes the communication
ban with hauler boats. Italy, on which coast landed
about 85.000 refugees from the beginning of this
year, gave the mentioned initiative in order to
smoothen the pressure on its coastal area. The
movement of refugees to Europe from autumn 2015
onwards is evident in the total number of European
citizens. On July 11th, 2017 the Direction-General
of the European Commisssion Eurostat published
the number of citizens within EU as per January
1st, 2017. In the beginning of the year there
were 511,8 millions of inhabitants in the Union.
This is a growth in the amount of 1,5 million
in comparision to the last year. The Austrian
population increased for 82.789 person compared
to the previous year.

EU-financial support
for transport projects:
Karavanks' tunnel to be completely built

On Friday, June 23rd, 2017 the
European Commission announced a very ambitious
plan: in the frame of the so called investment
plan for Europe there should be available 2,7
billions of Euros for altogether 152 central transport
projects. The desired achievements are the substantial
modernisation of railway connections, innovative
transport management, use of alternative fuels
and support of cross-border connections. In this
context the complete construction of the Karavanks'
tunnel between Austria and Slovenia is planned.
With the European initiative additionally new
workplaces would be created and also the basis
for stroger economic activity would be given,
stressed the competent EU-Commisioner Violeta
Bulc.

Brexit: one half of
the EU workforce threatens to leave the island

Brexit can lead to the process
, that in the period of five years Great Britain
will lose almost one half of the EU workforce,
which is actually employed there. Such are the
results of one study of the consulting firm Deloitte.
Altogether 1,2 millions of workers from 3,4 millions
of migrants in total, who are at the moment employed
in United Kingdom, could leave Great Britain.

This threatening substantial movement
of the workforce is primarly due to Brexit. Because
of its cultural variety, job chances and high
living standard is Great Britain considered as
an especially attractive new homeland. According
to Deloitte mainly the highly qualified workforce
is thinking about leaving Great Britain, therefore
it will be there necessary to invest intensively
into the education of employees and automatisation.

In front of the
Lindwurm in Klagenfurt

The employees of the municipality
of Brda and of the institution for tourism, culture,
youth and sport - Brda were in Klagenfurt welcomed
by representatives of the AACC on their tour through
Carinthia.

Administrative court
confirmed the obligation of the environmental
impact assessment for the planned pumped-storage
power plant Koralm

The administrative court decided
, that for the planned pumped-storage power plant
Koralm- with the turbine power 960 or 970 MW it
would be the biggest power plant in the whole
Austria and the second biggest of this type in
Europe- it is necessary to obtain the environmental
impact assessment.

We should consider the gigantic
figures of the plant: the capacity of turbine
960 or 960 MW, two with the means of valley blockades
set still lakes with the size of 20 hectares and
pouring of the creek from the lakes for filling
up the storage tank in the size of 4,7 million
mł or 5,5 million mł of total storage capacity
in the period of about two and half years(!).
This is the victory of justice.

Cyprus: Hope for reunification
at the moment dead

EU member Cyprus is since 1974
– after the Greek military overthrough and the
Turkish invasion of the northern part of the island
- a divided country.
The existing, from the side of the United Nations
(U.N.) intermediated talks regarding the reunification
were up till now not successful.

On Friday, May 26th , 2017, the
special U.N. Envoy Espen Barth Eide in Nicosia
announced , that because the talks between the
parties in dispute Mustafa Akinci (The President
of „The Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus„) and
Nicos Anastasiades (The President of the Greek
part of Cyprus) failed to make any progress, there
is no basis to continue the U.N. led discussions.

Not definetly cancelling the
talks, the U.N. see in the moment the biggest
insolvable obstacles especially on the fields
of the power distribution, division of the territory,
right of possession and insurance of safety.

Festival of cherries
2017

Also this year, the AACC, together
with the partners from Goriška Brda, was able
to delight the visitors of the cherry festival
in Villach, Klagenfurt, Graz and Tschepitschach
next Globasnitz with juicy red cherries.

New Carinthian constitution:
no reason for astonishment, but also no reason
for disappointment

The new Carinthian state constitution,
in which for the first time the Slovenian national
minority in Carinthia is mentioned, and which
should be accepted on June 1st., at the session
of the Carinthian Parliament, was the thema of
the working meting , held on May 24th, 2017, between
the Slovenian President
Borut Pahor and the Austrian State President
Alexander Van der Bellen.
At the meeting also the Carinthian Governor
Peter Kaiser was present.

As Van der Bellen also Pahor considers
the newly formulated constitution as an important
and correct move in the right direction. „There
is no reason for astonishment, but also no reason
for disappointment“, so Pahor. The future of EU
and the prolongation of border controls between
Slovenia and Austria were also topics of the meeting.
After the working meeting with President Pahor
there was an additional discussion with the President
of the Slovenian National Assembly
Milan Brglez.

In the evening the two State Presidents
attended the celebration at the occasion of the
60th anniversary of the Slovenian Gymnasium.
The celebration was held in the Concert hall in
Klagenfurt.

EU - Interruption of
accession negotiations with Turkey?

After the triumph of the Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the constitutional
referendum, which was held on April 16th, 2017,
there are multiplying votes in the European Parliament,
which support the interruption of EU-accession
negotiations with Turkey. According to the standpoint
of the observers the interruption is to be accepted
already in the frame of the next regular summit
of the European Council, which will be held on
June 22nd and 23rd, 2017. However the official
demand among 28 member countries was set only
by Austria. EU-politicians of the other member
countries have arguments against - namely the
official interruption would place Turkey even
more far from Europe and the pro-European forces
in the country would become weaker.

Moving of academics
after EU eastern enlargement

The study, published in the Science-Magazin
by independent scientists, reports about one consequence
of the EU eastern enlargement in 2004 for the
10 new member countries.; then numerous highly
educated workers sistematically left the mentioned
countries in the direction of Western Europe.
Especially scientists and other academics did
not tend in the first step to cross-country cooperation,
but tried immediatelly after the access to EU
to find their future in established and renowned
research centres of Western Europe. In this sense
we can judge the integration of new members as
one way road. According to the opinion of Fabio
Pammolli, the professor of economy at the Politechnical
University in Milano, it would be wrong to believe,
that in these countries it would be possible to
stop the Brain-Drain with big investments into
the infrastructure and research.. Besides new
members from 2004 the mentioned problematics is
characteristic also of Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia.

German machinery producers
are again orientated to Russia

According to one study every second
German producer of machines is facing growing
orders, regarding the sales to Russia.
However the Russian economy is still in crisis,
since low crude oil prices, the ruble exchange
rate and economic sanctions are forcing the Russian
Government to implement the diversification of
its economy. This measure will bring profits also
to German and European machinery producers.
While the German producers are still waiting for
a significant increase of business with Russia,
the Chinese rivals are already on the run. According
to some data last year China exported to Russia
for about 4,9 billions Euros of machines and devices
and has so for the first time surpassed its German
rival.

Carinthia and Slovenia
are strengthening cooperation

Carinthia and Slovenia will in
future strengthen their mutual cooperation on
different levels. This was confirmed by the Carinthian
Governor Peter Kaiser
and the Slovenian President of the Parliament
Milan Brglez at the
working meeting on the third of April 2017, which
was held at the seat of the Carinthian Government.
Besides the actual thema of the implementation
of the Slovenian minority in the new Carinthian
constitution also the Krško Nuclear Power Plant,
tasks at the refugees' movements and the position
of the German speaking Oldaustrians in Slovenia
were discussed.
The Austrian Ambassador in Slovenia Sigrid
Berka, the Ambassador of Slovenia in Vienna
Andrej Rahten, the
President of the Carinthian Parliament Reinhart
Rohr and the Slovenian Consul-General in
Klagenfurt Milan Predan
were also present at this meeting.

Presentation
visit of the Presidents of all Councils

The
Austrian President Dr. Alexander
van der Bellen met on March 21st the Presidents
and Vice-presidents of all Councils of the Austrian
minorities. Led by the President of the Council
of Slovenian National Community Bernard
Sadovnik the President Bellen was informed
about the actual situation of the Austrian minorities.
Furthermore they discussed several themas, from
the issue of education and school system to the
novelisation of the law of promoting publications,
which ensure the basic financing of the printed
media of all Austrian minorities, especially of
the weekly newspaper Novice.

Author
rights:Photo: Carina Carlovits/HFB

390 exhibitors
at the GAST 2017

The opening
speeches on March 12th were full of optimism,
new initiatives and strategies were presented-
with the emphasis on slow food and regionality.
The Carinthian Governor
Dr.Peter Kaiser greeted the exhibitors
from Austria and the neighbourhood countries with
the multilingual „Welcome“. Kaiser considers Carinthia
as a natural arena, which invites the whole year
to an active holiday time and which acquires points
with cultural and culinarical events. The important
elements of the motto „Welcome by friends „ are
also multilinguality and openness, added the Governor.

Mag. Filip
Warasch – the Secretay General - was present
at the opening ceremony from the side of the AACC.

Meeting in Klagenfurt

The Austrian Secretary Muna Duzdar
visited Carinthia on Tuesday, March 6th, 2017.
Among others she met the President of the AACC
Bernard Sadovnik and the Carinthian Governor Dr.
Peter Kaiser. The Secretary also favors intercultural
dialogue and the promotion of interaction and
interethnic relations, as this is also the basic
orientation of activities and projects of the
AACC.

Trains in the Netherlands
drive on wind

End of last year the railway company
from the Netherlands NS adjusted all its electrical
trains to wind energy.
The transition from the electrical to wind energy
was done one year earlier then planned.

Two years ago the company NS and
the energy company Eneco signed a ten year contract,
which defines a total transition to the wind energy
for the operation of trains, namely till the beginning
of 2018, reports "orf at" online. This
task was however achieved one year before the
planned date. Already last year the trains have
reached 75% share of ecological energy, writes
the newspaper "trends der zukunft" online.
Every year the company NS, which transports daily
on 5500 lines around 600.000 passengers, consumed
about 1,2 billions of kilowatt-hours. The capacity
of the wind wheel in one hour functioning period
is sufficient, that the train makes the distance
of 200 kilometers, refers "orf at" based
on the info from NS and Eneco. Both companies
will in the future try to achieve, that the consumption
of electrical energy to 2020 is diminished to
one third.

State constitution

Because the people do not understand...
Short commentary by Gerhard Weis

»From Carinthian politics
we are used to tensions and populism-
however this time the matter is evidently
going too far: because 'the People ' do
not understand, there is no own opinion
about it. Who are' the People ', have
they understood always all in the same
way ( see the conflict about settlement
plates ), was there a trial at all to
explain the facts to 'the People' ? This
matter has absolutely nothing to do with
the democracy and plebiscite - we can
not vote about the removing of the Alps
only because 'some People ' want to have
a free view to the Mediterranean Sea.
The matter is connected with the fact
that one political party must bravely
lead the people ( all of them !) and not
make them blind- whoever does this, namely
has a look only on the back part- and
this is in no way an astonishing view...«

(Gerhard Weis is
the Vice-president of the AACC and the
former long time intendant-general of
ORF)

The answer
of a German speaking Carinthian to the Benger's
below sentence:

»If in the Carinthian
constitution the word "Slovenian" was
mentioned, this would bring strong emotions to
the people. The purpose was equality, but people
do not understand it. The formulation is bringing
additional obstacle to the land.«

Dear Mister Benger,
I am very surprised with your statement about
the Carinthian constitution. Now we are in the
year 2017, however it seems you do not live in
the 21st century or you belong to the group of
people from the past or to trivial persons ? Or
do you want to suck up with such statements to
the Carinthian Freedom Party, to which we and
all Austrian taxpayers can be grateful for the
backpack, full of debts in the amount of numerous
billions of Euros. Regardless out of which reason
you gave such statement, at the next elections
I should give you my vote ? In no case !
With friendly regards

Small growth in the European Union will
continue

The economic analysts
from Germany, France and Italy predict
that the moderate growth in the European
Union will continue. After the gross domestic
product in this territory was to increase
for 0,4% in the last quarter of 2016,
the same rate of growth should continue
also in the first two quarters of 2017,
are the reports of the three research
institutes from the above mentioned European
countries. The main reason for such growth
is the constant growth of the private
and public consumption. In addition it
is to expect a bit more dynamic growth
of investments due to the still favourable
possibilities of financing. Inflation
however is to grow in the next quarters.
Because of the not knowing the political
and economic measures of the new American
government, due to the unclear Brexit
implementation and the consequences of
the Italian referendum the political insecurity
stays at a high level. Due to the coming
votes in France, Germany and the Netherlands
in the forecast time period this insecurity
should not decrease substantially, what
can have negative effects on investment
preparations.

EU and Cuba signed
their first agreement

The European Unity and Cuba signed
their first agreement on December 12th, 2016.
The agreement about the political dialogue and
cooperation represents a frame for a closer political
exchange, for the improvement of the bilateral
cooperation and for the mutual attitude in mulitlateral
committees. For the financial period 2014- 2020
for Cuba 50 milion euros are planned, which are
meant for the agriculture, safety of food products,
long term exploitation of resources and for the
economic and social reforms. The Austrian exports
to Cuba amounted in 2015 to about 9,8 milion euros,
imports about 2,9 milion euros. Important export
positions are electrical appliances, paper and
plastic products, the most important import products
are sugar, beverages and also tobacco.

Signed partnership
between Slovenian Ljutomer and town Rust

At the occasion of the 95th anniversary
of Burgenland and of the 25 years of the Slovenian
independance the representatives of both countries
met on Tuesday, November 15th,on a mutual celebration
in Seehof Rust, the seat of the Burgenland Wine
Academy. Among many guests, greeted by the Mayor
Mag. Gerold Stagl, were also: the Ambassador of
Portugal, the Honorary Consul of Slovenia Dr.
Peter Penkoff, the Presidents of the Country Counsil
Christian Illedits and Rudolf Strommer, the President
of the AACC and The Mayor Bernard Sadovnik and
other representatives from politics, administration
and tourism. At previously held bilateral discussion
on the thema »Marketing for regions«, which was
from the Burgenland side attended by the Governor
Hans Niessl and the director of the State office
Mag. Ronald Reiter, and from the Slovenian side
by Zdravko Počivalšek, the Minister of Economic
Development and Technology and Dr. Andrej Rahten,
the Slovenian Ambassador, further possibilities
for cross country cooperation were discussed,
especially on the fields of tourism and wine.
The signing of the partnership agreement between
the town of Rust and the Slovenian town Ljutomer
regarding the mutual marketing of wine sort furmint
should mean the first step of this cooperation.

EU Commission supports
Start-up companies in Europe

Start-up and Scale-up initiatives
of the EU Commission should offer numerous inovative
companies in Europe the best possibilities to
become world -wide leaders. The Vice-President
of the Commission, responsible for employment,
growth, investments and competitiveness, Jyrki
Katainen, told that for stimulating of Start-up
companies regulational obstacles should be abolished.
Necessary is an easier access to risky capital
funds and also necessary »the second chance« for
enterpreneurs, who are in difficult financial
situation. Therefore the Commission and the European
Investment Bank group are implementing the birth
of trans-european risky capital umbrella fund.
The EU-Commission is further active on taxation
simplifications. In the last years the Commission
prepared several political initiatives, out of
which Start-up companies profited, for instance
capital market union, the inner market strategy
and the digitalisation of the inner market. With
the new initiative the biggest obstacles in the
formation and growth of companies should be faced.

Meeting in Sarajevo

At the occasion of the election
of the leader of the Municipality Sarajevo Center
Nedžad Ajnadžič, who is also a member of the AACC
board, the AACC President Bernard Sadovnik met
the members of the AACC Fikret Mušič (the former
Premier of the Sarajevo Canton) and Mijo Matanovič
(the Counselor of the Vice Minister for Foreign
Trade of federal Bosnian government).
At the meeting they agreed upon actual cooperation
between the AACC and the Municipality Sarajevo
Center. In future the AACC will be responsible
for networking with the decision making actors
in Austria. The President Sadovnik congratulated
the newly elected leader and indicated the possibilities
of closer cooperation, which should also strengthen
the desired joining of Bosnia and Herzegovina
to EU.

Visit
from Globasnitz/Globasnica in Perchtoldsdorf

On Saturday, October 29th, the municipal delegation
of Globasnitz from Carinthian Jauntal visited
Perchtoldsdorf. The delegation of almost 100 people,
led by the Mayor Bernard Sadovnik and the Vice
Mayor Peter Hutter, was accepted in the Town Castle
by the Vice Mayor Brigitte Sommerbauer and led
through Perchtoldsdorf by Mag. Gabriele Lindenthal
and DDr. Gregor Gatscher-Riedl. The historically
colored morning, which included also the climbing
on the Tower, ended at "Heurigen Josef "
and wine-cellar Marlene Wolflinger.

The Commission of the
Slovenian Parliament visited Carinthia

The Commission of the National
Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia for Relations
with Minorities and Slovenians abroad, led by
its President Ivan Hršak, visited Carinthia on
Friday, October 14th, 2016. After the meeting
in the Carinthian Parliament, the members of the
Commission visited the bilingual municipality
Globasnitz/ Globasnica. There they met the political
representatives of the Slovenian minority and
the Mayor and the President of the AACC and SKS
Bernard Sadovnik. The School Mistress Veronika
Terbuch explained the guests the importance of
functioning of bilingual elementary schools in
bilingual communities. The AACC President and
the Mayor Bernard Sadovnik stressed the importance
of the cross-country- cooperation for the development
of the border region.
The members of the delegation were also the members
of the Parliament Ljudmila Novak, Violeta Tomič,
Marinka Levičar, Marija Bačič and the Commission's
secretary Barbara Medved Špiletič, Ambassador
dr. Andrej Rahten, General Consul Milan Predan
and Consul Jasna Goličič Bakovnik.

Wine Festival in Žitara
vas/ Sittersdorf

This year's Wine festival in Sittersdorf
attracted numerous visitors. On the top of the
guests of honor were the Carinthian State Governor
Peter Kaiser and the President of the Carinthian
Parliament Rudi Schober.

Traditional Cheese
Festival

On September 24th
and 25th, 2016, the already 21. Cheese Festival
in Kötschach-Mauthen took place now. Cheese production
has a long tradition in the Valley Gailtal/ Zilja.
At the center of the cheese festival was like
every year the culinary enjoyment! Among the guests
were also the mayor of Brda Franc Mužič and the
Secretary General of the AACC Filip Warasch.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's application for
the EU membership accepted

On September 20th, 2016
the members of the EU accepted the application
of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the EU membership,
which was presented in February this year.
The prospects of the EU accession have
so been presented to all West Balkan countries,
Croatia is already an EU member, Serbia
and Montenegro are in the access negotiations.
The access process is now starting with
the point, that the EU-Commission prepares
an expert opinion of the application for
the membership. The Commission will forward
the government in Sarajevo its questions
about the readiness of Bosnia and Herzegovina
to overtake the judicial system of the
EU, where the answer to these questions
could take one to two years. After the
final report from the side of the EU-Commission
the members can decide, whether Bosnia
and Herzegovina will be granted the status
of the candidate country and if the conditions
for the start of the negotiations are
fulfilled.

Hugh cake at the end
of the visit of the Viennese delegation in Ljubljana

From September 19th to 21st in
Ljubljana were held -in the frame of the cooperation
between Ljubljana and Vienna, which started 16
years ago- the so called Viennese Days with numerous
cultural events, an economic forum, presentations
of the actual ecological projects in both cities,
ending with surprise of the Viennese confectioners-
the biggest Sacher-Torte in the world, with the
radius of 3,5 meters and the weight of 600 kgs.
At this occasion the Mayor of Ljubljana announced
the counter visit of Vienna within the next year.
The Viennese delegation was led by its Vicemayor
and the City Councelor for Economics and Finance
affairs Renate Brauner.

Governor Kaiser for
stronger connection of the existing companies with
Start-ups

The Carinthian Governor Kaiser
opened the Klagenfurt Autumn Fair, which is, as
Kaiser stressed, directed ahead. The existing
companies should get more connected with new developments
and Start-ups.
Kaiser also mentioned the thema Hypo/Heta, for
which a solution should be found in the mid of
the next month. The way, which is pathed now,
should be the only one acceptable for the future
of this country.
After the greeting speaches of the leading country
and state politicians the former Minister of Finance
dr. Hannes Androsch held a lecture about the fairs
as shows of achievements. He also warned about
the ideas of exiting from EU, which are to be
treated as proposals for economic suicide. We
simply should not have no interest for a week
EU or even for its disintegration. Especially
for a small country like Austria the open markets
are of fundamental meaning. „Only united we can
be players on the world scene“, he stressed. Androsch
did not forget to mention that in this moment
the world economy is similar to a stammering motor.
The overdue housework should be done quickly.
Education has herewith the essential importance.

EU Commission's
standpoint is that the Austrian composition with
Heta creditors is not a state support

On September 2nd, 2016 the EU
Commision decided that the composition of Austria
with creditors of Heta Asset Resolution AG, which
is responsible for the orderly liquidation of
Austrian bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria, is in conformity
with the EU regulations for subsidies. The guarantee
document of Carinthia , which is the basis for
the formal offer of the Republic of Austria to
the creditors , was transmitted to the EU Commission
in order to obtain its juridical standpoint. EU
Commission does not treat this agreement as a
new state subsidy, since herewith it refers to
the payment of already previously agreed /permitted
state guarantee.

Societal event Villach
Fair 2016

The Slovenia-day in Villach also
visited representatives of the AACC, which is
co-organizer of the event.

Carinthia becomes a member of the Anti-Atom
Alliance of the European Regions

In these days Carinthia
became a member of the „Anti-Atom Alliance
of the European Regions.“ This Alliance
was established in March 2016 and is an
answer to European efforts to strengthen
the use of the atomic energy in the future.
The Country counsellor Holub about it:
Carinthia is with its Energymasterplan
100 percent on the renewable way and wants
to be active against the fact , that the
outdated atomic energy is keep alive artificially
by the EU-subsidies. In the frame of the
Alliance we have decided for an european
energy orientation without atomic energy.
„Carinthia is also in the European space
the best example, how this is feasible„,
adds Holub.

Brexit vote bad for Germany?

The possibility, that
in the future the German economy faces
recession, has significantly increased
in the last weeks.. The main reason is
the result of the Brexit vote, which causes
unsecurity- especially on the financial
markets. This is the signal of the economic
situation indicator from the Macroeconomic
Policy Institute (IMK) of the Hans-Boeckler
Stiftung.
For the time period from June to September
2016 the IMK-indicator , which comprises
the main information about the actual
economic situation, shows a medium recession
possibility in the height of 21%. In June
the value of this indicator was only 8,8%.
The actual forecast of IMK is based on
the standpoint, that Brexit will already
in the next year have significant influence
on the economic growth in Germany. In
such situation IMK advises, that the governments
in Germany and in the other EU countries
abolish the standstill in the public investments
as soon as possible. In this way the urgenty
demanded company investments can achieve
important impules.

»Cherries
in the neighbour's garden...« sang years ago Peter
Alexander and had cherries not really in his mind.
The well known text of this song is however this
time connected with the Slovenian municipality
Goriška Brda in the real meaning of the word,
since the neighbouring country can offer sweet
and red cherries already from the end of May onwards
and year after year properly celebrates their
»harvest«.
Already in the times of the Monarchy mostly women
traditionally brought the first cherries in spring
time from Goriška Brda to Klagenfurt and Vienna.
The municipality Brda and the AACC ( Alps-Adriatic
Centre ) organized in the last years together
with the towns Kagenfurt and Villach the festival
of cherries with wine, musical programme … and
in this way successfully revived the past tradition.

On 1st and 2nd of June next
year we will celebrate with the town Graz, announced
today during his today's visit of collegue Mag.
Siegfried Nagl the Mayor Franc Mužič. In his luggage
he had a lot of delicacies to taste. Beside the
cooperation at the festival of cherries the discussion
was also about the meaning of Slovenian independance
25 years ago and about the fact, how the cooperation
afterwards positively grew up and intensified.
The Mayor Nagl stressed: »It is a pleasure to
me, that we will be together at the festival,
we will also invite our village of cherries Hittendorf.
On the other side I came to the conclusion, that
today cooperation sholud be strengthened even
more than ever before and that is necessary to
look for places for resting. Your municipality
is one of such places.« The Slovenian Mayor was
only able to confirm these words and to add: »We
are located in a beautiful landscape with marvelous
views towards the Alps and the sea, beside the
cherrues we also have excellent wines. I cordially
invite you and all your citizens«.

Villach Church Day
:Associations will not come

The mandatory cash register desks
keep associations away from their participation
at the Vilach Church Day, which will be held from
July 31st to August 7th. The responsible persons
are worried ,that the cooperation of voluntary
workers would also not be possible.
104 traditional and 28 music groups will take
care for the entertainment in the center of the
town. 240 stands will be set on 50.000 square
meters big arena.
All, who will have stands at the Church Day, either
enterpreneurs or associations, will be obliged
to register all their staff and – for the first
time this year- to have cash register desks.
On Monday, July 31st there will be the Slovenian
day at the event. AACC will be also this year
at the disposal to the Villach Church Day.

Cherries from Brda
conquered Vienna

On Monday, June 13th, 2016 the
Mayor of Vienna Dr. Michael Häupl accepted the
delegation of the Community Goriška Brda, which
was led by the Mayor Franc Mužič. In the frame
of this event were the cherries, which were brought
to Vienna after one hundred years of break and
were officially given also to the Mayor of Vienna.
With this symbolic gesture the cherries are to
be sold in Vienna in the future, too - so as they
were sold in the times of the Monarchy.
The AACC has - in the anniversary year of the
formation of the Republic of Slovenia - significantly
contributed to this historical event.

More than
3000 kilos of sweet cherries from Goriška Brda
were sold in Villach, Klagenfurt and Tschepitschach
at Globasnitz in the frame of the Festival of
cherries, which is organized by the Community
of Brda and the AACC. Cherries are besides the
beautiful landscape, elegant wine and proschiutto
the pearl of Goriška Brda. The traditional offer
of cherries from the Monarchy times was revived
by the AACC, whose President is Bernard Sadovnik
and General Secretary Filip Warasch; together
with the Municipality of Brda and its Mayor Franc
Mužič, who is also Kugy's laureate. The three
locations of the Festival are: Villach, Klagenfurt
and Globasnitz. In Villach and Klagenfurt more
than 2000 kilos were sold, the rest in Tschepitschach-all
in a short time period, the cherries were sold
out much before before the Festival ended. This every year's Festival is without doubt
an important acquisition from the view of Alps-Adriatic
cooperation, for Villach, Klagenfurt and Globasnitz
however it is a true pleasure in the very authentic
meaning of the word.

Smuggling means a big
income
for organised criminal in Europe

The mutual research of Europol
and Interpol showed, that in the times of the
migrant crisis the smuggling is a billion business
for terrorist networks and for the organised criminal.
According to the evaluation of both mentioned
organizations on their way to Europe migrants
paid only in the last year to smugglers between
5 and 6 billions EUR. More than 90% of migrants
came to Europe with the assistance of the organised
criminal against paying the amount up to 6 000
EUR per person. . We can presume that the smuggling
of the migrants is an international business model,
in which people from more than 100 European and
non-European countries are participating. The
international police authorities are warning ,
that the decrease of the migrant figures does
not automatically mean also the decrease of the
smuggling of the migrants. We can expect, that
in the future the number of the people , wanting
to come to Europe, will increase again. In this
moment only in Libya there are more that 800 000
migrants waiting for the transport to Europe.

Carinthia in EU

At the occasion of the Europe
Day , which will be on May 8th, the Carinthian
Government publicated on its website some interesting
information regarding Carinthia in the European
Union.
From 2007 to 2013 Carinthia received referred
to agricultural initiatives 694,4 millions Euro,
for cross-border projects additionally 23,8 millions
Euro, further for support of economy 67,4 millions
Euro and 20,5 millions Euro more for measures
against unemployment and poverty.
The above mentioned are initiatives from the so
called » structural funds », which were given
from the side of the Union to Austria as co-financing.
These amounts were then split to federal units
and spent by different subjects in Carinthia.
The EU budget ( more years financial frame from
December 12th, 2013 ) is in total 908 billions
Euro.

Slovenska Bistrica:
International conference about voting rights in
EU

The castle of Slovenska Bistrica
some days ago hosted an international conference
under the title "Voting rights from the local
to the European level - the political participation
of EU citizens at the developing of the community".
Twelve delegations from nine countries participated
at the conference. Namely Slovenska Bistrica participates
- together with fourteen regions, towns and organizations
of the civil community - at the project "European
regions develop European citizenship", which
is partly financed in the frame of the European
program for citizens. The main part of the conference
was the round table, where the voting rights on
all levels were discussed by the former Minister,
the leader of the Slovenian Delegation of The
Assembly of EU regions in Brussels and the Mayor
of Slovenska Bistrica Dr. Ivan Žagar; Bernard
Sadovnik, the Mayor of Globasnitz and the President
of The Alps-Adriatic Center for Cross-border Co-operation
in Klagenfurt and several eminent experts. The
conference was moderated by the political analyst
Božidar Novak. The initial lecturers were Dr.
Rudi Rizman from The
University of Ljubljana and Bologna and Dr. Lenart
Škof from The University of Primorska.
The event was followed by numerous students of
The Secondary School Slovenska Bistrica.

President Heinz
Fischer for gradual elimination of EU sanctions
against Russia

While visiting Moscow The Federal
President of Austria Heinz Fischer stressed, that
Austria respects European sanctions against Russia.
However- one , who intends to improve mutual relations,
can not be satisfied with the sanctions, so Fischer.
The basis for the sanctions is the conflict ,
referring to the Crimea half-island. Fischer is
assured, that gradual abolition of EU sanctions
is a way , about which it is necessary to think.
The relations between Russia and EU are quite
far from optimum and neither Russian nor Austrian
economy can profit out of such situation.

The Great Golden Honorary
Award for Valentin Oman

The important Carinthian artist
Valentin Oman received the Great Golden Honorary
Award from the Country Governor Peter Kaiser and
his deputy Gaby Schaunig. Numerous important guests,
among them also Oman's wife Elisabeth, were present
at the award ceremony.
Valentin Oman was born on December 14th, 1935
in St. Stefan near Villach, he finished secondary
school in Tanzenberg, studied at the University
of Vienna and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana.
Among his numerous masterpieces are the artistic
decoration of The Slovenian Gymnasium in Klagenfurt
and as well the wall paintings and the Piran's
crossway in the Tanzenberg Church. Oman is also
a Honorary Doctor of the University in Klagenfurt
and a corresponding member of the Slovenian Academy
of Sciences and Arts.
He lives and works in Vienna and Finkenstein.

Border controls: loss
for Europe

Experts expect higher costs and
prices as well as deadlock in the growth. The
study of the Bertelsmann Foundation concluded
that for EU losses in the amount of 470 billions
Eur are to be expected, the end of Schengen would
however cause negative economic effects also out
of Europe.
„When the gates within Europe go down again, this
means a big pressure for the humble growth in
Europe. Finally the bill is paid by the people“,
is the opinion of the Foundation. The basic point
for actual calculations are time losses, which
would be caused by the border controls of passenger
traffic at the borders all over Europe.
The labour costs would increase, the stocks in
warehouses should be bigger, a price pressure
would be caused. Eventually we are faced with
higher prices, lower demand for consumers' goods
and decline in the international competitiveness.
Investments shrink and finally the economic growth
reduces.

High award for the
Association of Slovenian organisations (ZSO) in
Carinthia

At the celebration on January
23th, 2016, the President of the Republic of Slovenia
Borut Pahor handed
over the Award of merit to the President of ZSO
dr. Marjan Sturm
for the 60th anniversary of the Organisation.
Also the Minister dr. Josef
Ostermayer, Minister Gorazd
Žmavc and the Carinthian Governor dr.
Peter Kaiser expressed their congratulations
to dr. Sturm, who is leading this Association
for 24 years.
Also the AACC is expressing its congratulations
to Marjan Sturm, who is a member of the Board
of the AACC. At the celebration the President
of the AACC Bernard Sadovnik
and the Vice-president mag.
Zalka Kuchling were present, too.

„The borders of Europe-
human rights and consequences of the climate changes“

This year's „European tolerance
discussions„ will be held under the above moto
in the Carinthian mountain village Fresach from
April 11th to April 14th, 2016.
Beside the Austrian President numerous representatives
from the world of politics, art and culture will
be present. About 50 researchers, writers and
artists will also this year lead the dialogue
with the domestic inhabitants and will discuss
the points, which cause movements all over Europe.Manfred Sauer, the
President of the Association and the main supervisor
of the Evangelical church in Carinthia (on the
photo the first from the right), is expecting
from these discussions initiatives, which bring
courage and solutions. „Herewith we are based
on information, explanations and personal dialogue,
verified elements, which are a remedy for prejuduce,“
concludes mag. Sauer.

New year' s press conference
of the President of the European Commission

The President of the Commission
Jean-Claude Juncker
stressed on his New year's press conference that
the EU Commission would be also in the future
concentrated on the growth and employment as its
priority tasks. The first results of the investment
offensive are noticable, 81000 small and medium
size enterprises have already made profit on the
basis of the initiative. Juncker is critical towards
the implementation of the actual measures for
controlling the migrants's crisis, especially
towards the non realised relocation of 160000
refugees.
Additionally he stressed that EU Commission is
decided to guarantee free movement of people and
goods in the Schengen area. The actual, temporary
controls for regulating the flow of the migrants
among the European countries will cost EU up to
3 billions Eur.
Juncker is expecting the approval of the EU- reform
proposals from the side of the United Kingdom
till the end of this February.

Russia thinking about
selling VTB and Sberbank

Due to the price decrease of crude
oil on the world markets the Russian Minister
for Economy Alexej Uljakajew is considering to
sell the biggest state owned banks, among them
VTB and Sberbank. The Russian Minister of Finance
also announced it would be necessary to decrease
the non- essential expenditure for ten percents.

The look at the world market prices
of fossil energy sources undoubtfully shows the
serious Russian situation: the barrel ( 159 liters
) of crude oil WTI had on January 12th, 2016 the
value less than 30 dollars.
The problem is in the fact that the Russian Federation
gets a substantial part of its revenues from the
business with oil and gas. This business is at
the moment significantly influenced by falling
prices.
The actual situation in Russia is described as
serious, the budget deficit in 2015 was about
2,6 percents.

EU–trials against Austria
because of the violation of the law

The European commission led in
December 2015 47 trials against its members because
of the violation of the contracts , which are
a part of the European legal system. The majority
of the trials refers to violations from the fields
of financial stability, migration and interior
matters.
Against Austria there are now two litigations
before the European court.
One because of not considering the European laws
about public tenders. The client was supposed
to give orders for printing of official documents
( passports, driving licences) directly- without
a tender- to a private company „Osterreichische
Staatsdruckerei“. The second trial is referring
to the EU laws about driving licenses, Austria
was supposed to issue incorrect driving licenses
to some truck and bus drivers.

Important visit
from Gorizia region in Carinthia

Upon
invitation of the Alps-Adriatic Centre for Cross-border
Co-operation the Mayor of Nova Gorica Matej
Arčon and the Mayor of Brda
Franc Mužič as well as the Director of
the Regional Development Agency
Črtomir Špacapan visited Carinthia on Wednesday,
November 25th, 2015. The visit at the Mayor of
Villach Günther Albel
was followed by the meetings with the Country
Counsellor Christian Benger
and the Mayor of Klagenfurt Maria-Luise
Mathiaschitz.
The themas of the meetings included programmes
and projects in the frame of the new EU programme
period on the fields of tourism, economy and culture
between Carinthia and the Gorizia region as well
as the Soča valley.

Carinthian Counsellor
Rolf Holub in Ljubljana

Upon
invitation of the Slovenian Minister of the Environment
and Spatial planning Irena
Majcen the Carinthian Counsellor
Rolf Holub, responsible for the environment
and energy , visited the Slovenian capital city
on November 23rd, 2015. On the meeting actual
mutual projects as well as further steps on the
fields of waste treatment, spatial planning ,
environment protection and network Natra 2000
were discussed.
The Carinthian delegation was accompanied by Bernard
Sadovnik from AACC, Klagenfurt.

Meeting in Slovenske
Konjice

Upon invitation of the Mayor of
Slovenske Konjice Miran
Gorinšek almost 100 inhabitants from the
Municipality Globasnitz visited the Municipality
and its traditional Feast of St.Martin. The contacts
with Slovenske Konjice were established by the
President of the AACC and the Mayor of Globasnitz
Bernard Sadovnik.
The two Mayors agreed upon future mutual cooperation
on all levels. The member of the Slovenian Parliament
Bojan Podkrajšek
and the Patrish Priest Jože
Vogrin were present at the celebration,
too.

The
goal is a common tourist product

The mayors and the head teachers of the elementary
schools from municipalities Globasnitz, Zell Pfarre,
Jezersko, Predvor, Tržič and Šenčur had a meeting
in Jezersko and Preddvor and agreed upon concrete
cooperation on various fields. The elementary
schools will have a reunion already next April
in Šenčur. The mayors agreed to establish the
cross border cooperation so that a mutual calendar
of interesting events would be prepared and would
be available to all citizens. The main priority
however is the cooperation in tourist sector where
a mutual project/ product should be formed, also
in connection with a possible financing from the
side of EU.

Carinthia is awaiting
the constitutional reform

The Carinthian Coalition is presenting
the reform of the constitution. Slovenian national
minority will be for the first time mentioned
by its name in the new constitution. The reform
foresees the abolition of the proportional system.
Therefore smaller parties, elected in the country
government, will have more rights.
This means that inthe future various majorities
could be formed and it will not be obligatory
that the strongest parties would be represented
in the government. Long time the People's party
(ÖVP) was against the naming of the Slovenian
national minority, the Liberal Party is still
against.
The last constitutional reform in Carinthia was
in the seventies of the last century, the government
coalition ( SPÖ, ÖVP and the Greens ) have two
thirds of the majority.

Cultural workers from
Brda in Kötschach Mauthen

Numerous cultural workers (among
them also the attractive majorettes) from the
Municipality Brda led by their Mayor Franc
Mužič enriched in beautiful weather this
year's Cheese Festival in Kotschach Mauthen. Filip
Warasch from AACC was also present at the
opening ceremony.

Low level of citizen
awareness regarding the EU initiatives on the field
of regional policy

More than one third of EU citizens
live and work in bordering regions. The European
territorial cooperation is playing a significant
role at removing obstacles on borders and at promoting
cross border cooperation on the fields of safety,
transport, building, energy, health, education
and at assuring working places. 10 billions of
Eur will be invested in interregional cooperation
in the time period 2014-2020, out of which two
thirds will be given to bordering regions. Recently
made Eurobarometer – query on the the thema „General
awareness and perception of EU regional politics“
showed that only one fifth of all citizens are
aware, that EU regional funds were invested in
these regions. The results of the query indicate
that still a lot needs to be done in order to
strengthen the awareness of Interreg programmes.

Inflation in Europe
stable

The yearly inflation is unchanged
according to the latest data of the Statistical
office of the EU (Eurostat) in August 2015 in
Eu area comparing to July 2015-remaining at 0,2%.
The highest yearly inflation rate in August was
reached in components foods, alcohol, tobacco
(1,2%) and services (1,2%).
Lower inflation rate (even deflation) was observed
at industrial goods without energy (0,6%) and
energy (- 7,1%).
The highest change in comparision to July is expected
in component energy. The inflation rate here was
in July 2015 minus 5,6%.

The Festival of cherries
2016 also in Vienna

The Slovenian Ambassador in Vienna
Dr. Andrej Rahten
vistited together with the President of the AACC
Bernard Sadovnik
and the Financial advisor Stefan
Lesjak the Mayor of the Municipality Brda
Franc Mužic.

They agreed to organise the Festival
of cherries – which is since some years a big
success in Carinthia - with the assistance of
the Slovenian Embassy next year also in Vienna.
At this occasion the Municipality Brda will provide
a special promotion at the reception of the Ambassador
at the 25th anniversary of the Slovenian independance.
The ham and wine from Brda will enrich this event.

The European Commission
has started the macroeconomical strategy
for the Alpine region with the intention
of forming mutual challenges for seven
Alpine countries- Germany, Austria, France,
Italy, Slovenia, Liechtenstein and Switzerland
on the fields of economy growth, innovation,
mobility, connections , as well as environment
and energy. It is altogether the fourth
macroregional strategy of the EU. These
seven countries present more than 70 millions
of citizens.
The European council must now confirm
the acceptance strategy.

Intensifying cooperation

The Carinthian Governor Dr.
Peter Kaiser was on July 20th, 2015 in
Slovenia upon invitation of
Dejan Židan, Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food.
They discussed the possibilities to intensify
cooperation between Slovenia and Carinthia on
different fields, among others especially education
and agriculture.
As mentioned, one of the main issues was education,
therefore it is no surprise that Židan and Kaiser
visited the Biotechnical School Center in Naklo.
The Governor Kaiser evaluated the Center as a
»very positive surprise« and stated, that he is
leaving »with very positive impressions«. As an
example of the cooperation with Carinthia Židan
mentioned the sector of complementary activities
in agriculture.

The Carinthian energy
plan presented in Slovenia

The Carinthian State Counsellor
Rolf Holub ( The Greens) presented
recently in Kranj to 27 Slovenian mayors from
Gorenjska and Posočje regions and to numerous
experts from the field of energy supply procurement
the Carinthian strategic plan for energy- the
energy masterplan.
As after the presentation Holub said , the municipalities
from the above mentioned regions want to use the
same concept as Carinthia, namely the energy supply
procurement from the renewable energy sources
(photovoltaics, water, wind, biomass).

Expenditure of EU countries
in 2014

Eurostat has informed that the
total expenditure of EU countries in the last
year was 6701 billions Eur. This is almost one
half of the gross domestic product (48,1%) . In
comparision to the past year it has gone down
for 0,5%.
From these data it is evident that in 2013 among
others 40,2% of expenditure refers on the field
»social security«, 14,8% on »medical services«
and 10,3% on »education«.
The tendency for 2014 is the conclusion that the
expenditure in many EU countries went downwards,
especially in Greece ( - 10.7%) and in Slovenia
( -9,9%), Austria shows with 52,30% a growth of
1,4%.

Kugy's award 2015 for
Franc Mužič

The Association of Carinthian
Slovenians (SKS) granted this year's Kugy award
to the Mayor of Brda Franc Mužič in the frame
of the Municipality Brda holiday for his pioneer
work in the field of the cross border and regional
cooperation in the Alps Adriatic area.
The Mayor Mužič began to establish contacts with
municipalities in Croatia, Italy and Austria immediately
after his first election. In Carinthia Brda are
closely connected with Bleiburg, Globasnitz, Friesach,
Völkermarkt, Kötschach-Mauthen, Villach and Klagenfurt.

The Mayor Mužič is also a member of the Board
of the AACC, Municipality
Brda is its member for more than 10 years.Franc Mužič is truely
»a man of Alps-Adriatic area« and »an European«
, said the President of the Association Bernard
Sadovnik when giving the award to the Mayor
Mužič.

European Parliament
postponed TTIP negotiations

The President of the European
Parliament, Martin Schulz, postponed for June
10th, 2015 planned voting about the Transatlantic
Trade and Investment Partnership between EU and
USA ( TTIP). We have already mentioned this topic
on our webside. The most problematic subject in
negotiations is the investment arbitration. There
are 116 proposals for changes. Because of this
fact the Committee on International Trade will
discuss about TTIP again. TTIP should increase
the growth and the employment in Europe and strengthen
the world trade.

Festival of cherries
in Carinthia!

On Thursday,
May 28th,
take place a Festival of cherries in Klagenfurt
- Neuer Platz. On Saturday before the Festival
in Villach was organized and at last on Sunday,
May 31th,
take place the Festival of cherries in
Čepiče in Globasnica.

Citizens dialogue in Ljubljana

On
May 8th a cross border dialogue between
the European Commisioner for transport
Violeta Bulc
and citizens from Slovenia, Croatia, Austria
and Italy took place. One of the topics
was the poor infrastructure in the region.
In this moment the journey by train from
Klagenfurt to Ljubljana lasts several
hours, although the two towns are only
80 kilometres apart. Furthermore European
Unity should improve the connections among
regional airports and harbours. The other
two themas were the endeavoring of the
Unity for employment of the young people
and the incentives for small and medium
size companies. The citizens dialogue
was held in the frame of the European
Youth week 2015.

Carinthian Counsellor
Benger in discussions with Slovenian partners

The Counsellor of the Carinthian
Government Christian Benger
discussed the future European and international
projects with the Minister for Economic Development
Zdravko Počivalšek,
the Minister of Culture Julijana
Bizjak Mlakar and her State Secretary Anton
Peršak.
»In the Alps-Adriatic space I see big possibilities
and opportunities for our mutual region«,
Benger described his visit in Ljubljana. The Slovenian
partners want to intensify especially the cooperation
in the fields of creative economy and start-ups,
this means by creation of innovative companies.
The partners stressed the possibility of a positive
development - in spite of savings - primarily on
the basis of the cooperation in the economy
or culture.
The Counsellor Benger afterwards visited also
the Mayor of Nova Gorica Matej
Arčon, since this region will in the
future be able to participate in the funds
in the frame of programmes of EU for Carinthia.
From the side of the AACC Bernard
Sadovnik and Filip
Warasch accompanied the Counselor on his
visit.

Sadovnik became Mayor of Globasnitz/ Globasnica

AACC chairman Bernard
Sadovnik prevailed on Sunday, March 15th
in Globasnitz in the runoff election against
Wolfgang Wölbl and conquered the
Mayor chair. He is the second Mayor from
among the EL after Franz-Josef Smrtnik,
who became the Mayor of Bad Eisenkappel
six years ago and repeated the election
victory two weeks ago. Bernard Sadovnik
won the runoff election in 659 votes (53.97%),
its competitor, the former Socialist Mayor
Wölbl 562 votes (46.03%). The AACC
congratulates Sadovnik to success..

Carinthia will be able to spend 11,9 million
Euros

On its meeting on Tuesday,
February 24th, 2015 the Carinthian Government
concluded the cooperation programme »INTERREG
V-A Slovenia-Austria« for the period
2014- 2020. As the Deputy of the Governor
Dr. Gaby Schaunig,
Carinthia will acquire 11,9 million Euros
of the European money.
The cash fund of the European Regional
Development Fund will in future be used
for the strengthening of the research
in the technological development and innovations,
the growth of the competitiveness
of small and medium companies, the protection
of the environment and the initiating
of the efficient use of resources and
the improvement of the institutional capacity
and efficient public administration.
The Carinthian Fund for the Development
of Economy (KWF)- for economy projects
and the Department 3 of the Carinthian
Government for non economy initiatives
will be responsible for additional information
and project implementing.

Committee of the Regions in the frame of
EU started working

In the beginning of February
2015 – after votings to the European
Parliament - the Committee of the Regions
met again, in it there are 350 representatives
from 28 members of the European Unity.
The Treaty of Lisbon namely
defines that neither the Commission, nor
the Council or the Parliament of the EU
are allowed to accept conclusions regarding
the local or regional administration without
prior consultation to the Committee of
the Regions.
The Carinthian Governor Dr.Peter
Kaiser represents Carinthia in
this political body (he is its member
since the Year 2013); Slovenia however-which
is regionally not divided - is represented
by several Mayors. Among them there is
also the Mayor of Slovenska Bistrica (and
a member of the AACC, too) Dr.
Ivan Žagar, namely from the Year
2011 onwards.
We contacted the Mayor Dr. Žagar, who
is the leader of the Slovenian delegation
in the Committee of the Regions and a
member of the Presidency of this Committee,
as a member he is active in Commissions
COTER ( Commission for Territorial Cohesion)
and ENVE (Commission for Environment,
Climate changes and Energy) for his standpoint:
»Regarding the Transatlantic partnership
for Trade and Investments (TTIP), which
was discussed at the last plenum meeting
I think, that the very high level of the
European standard of protection (regarding
the protection of environment, climate,
protection of animals, protection of food,
rights of consumers and rights for data
protection) should be kept and preserved,
in no way can we allow the lowering of
these standards.«
The Carinthian Governor Dr. Peter Kaiser
is writing on his website, that he endeavoured
for the protection of the social
and ecological standard in the discussion
at the last plenum meeting about the trade
agreement between the EU and the USA (TTIP).
»The rights of the corporate groups can
not prevail above human rights«,
such is his conclusion.

Zalka Kuchling, the new school Headmaster

Mag.
Zalka Kuchling is the
new Headmaster of the Klagenfurt Slovene
secondary school and will start her work
on February 16th, 2015 – after the
school holidays. The new school Headmaster
will still be the Delegate in the Carinthian
Assembly, since these two functions are
compatible, said the President of the
Carinthian School Board Rudi
Altersberger.
The AACC sincerely congratulates Mag.
Zalka Kuchling for this important nomination.

The Daily Center for Activities for older
people in Globasnitz

The project leader of
ASSO, President
of the AACC
Vice-Mayor Bernard
Sadovnik about plans for the Daily
Center for Activities in Globasnitz/Globasnica:
"The recent months showed that the
formation of the Info office and of the
Daily Center for Activities for older
people were a full success, not only in
Globasnitz, but also out of its borders.
I am personally very satisfied about this
fact. Furthermore I will do my best to
continue with these projects for senior
citizens after the financial support from
the side of the EU stops. For me it will
be a pleasure to endeavour for this task."

The New Year's reception
of the Carinthian Government in Velden

At the January event in Velden,
the State Governor of Carinthia, Peter
Kaiser, his Vice-Governors Beate
Prettner and Gaby
Schaunig and the Government Counselors
Christian Benger,
Rolf Holub and Gerhard
Köfer expressed their New Year's wishes
for the Year 2015 to almost one thousand invited
guests from politics, administration, economy,
church, sport, culture and society. At this occasion
the Carinthian Governor asked all the present
for positive support to Carinthia. Ferdinand
Vouk - as the Mayor of the inviting municipality
- accepted numerous greetings from the leaders
of the Carinthian politics. Beside many guests
from the public life, also the Member of the Bundesrat
Ana Blatnik, the
President of the Carinthian School Board Rudolf
Altersberger, the bicyclist Paco
Wrolic and the representatives of the Slovenian
National Minority Bernard
Sadovnik and Marjan
Sturm were present.